Association of Acute Systemic Inflammation with Patient-Centric Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Elective Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) occur frequently after cardiac surgery. Absolute postoperative values of biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) and alveolar epithelial injury (soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products [sRAGE]) have been associated with hypoxia and prolonged ventilation. However, relationships between these biomarkers and PPCs, contextualized to preoperative inflammation and perioperative lung injury risk factors, are uncertain. We aimed to determine associations between perioperative increases in biomarkers of inflammation and alveolar epithelial injury with a patient-centric PPC definition in adult cardiac surgical patients, accounting for the influence of intraoperative risk factors for lung injury. METHODS: Adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery were eligible for this observational cohort study. Blood concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and sRAGE were collected after anesthesia induction (baseline) and on postoperative day 1 (POD 1). The primary outcome was the occurrence of moderate or severe PPCs, graded using a validated scale, in POD 0 to 7. We estimated the association between POD 1 IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and sRAGE concentrations and moderate/severe PPC presence using separate logistic regression models for each biomarker, adjusted for baseline biomarker values and risk factors for postoperative lung injury (age, baseline PaO2/FiO2, left ventricle ejection fraction [LVEF], procedural type, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, and transfusions). Covariables were chosen based on relevance to lung injury and unadjusted between-group differences among patients with versus without PPCs. The secondary outcome was postoperative ventilation duration, which was log-transformed and analyzed using linear regression, adjusted using the same variables as the primary outcome. RESULTS: We enrolled 204 patients from 2016 to 2018. Biomarkers were analyzed in 2023 among 175 patients with complete data. In adjusted analyses, POD 1 IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly associated with moderate/severe PPCs. The odds ratio (OR) for developing a PPC for every 50 pg/mL increase in POD 1 IL-8 was 7.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13-28.53, P = .003) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.13-1.93, P = .01) for every 50 pg/mL increase in POD 1 IL-6. In adjusted analyses, postoperative ventilation duration was significantly associated with POD 1 sRAGE; each 50 pg/mL increase in sRAGE was associated with a 25% (95% CI, 2%-52%, P = .03) multiplicative increase in hours of ventilation. TNF-α was not significantly associated with PPCs or ventilation duration. CONCLUSIONS: Acute systemic inflammation is significantly associated with PPCs after elective cardiac surgery in adults when taking into consideration preoperative inflammatory burden and perioperative factors that may influence postoperative lung injury.

Evaluation of Etomidate Use and Association with Mortality Compared with Ketamine Among Critically Ill Patients.

RATIONALE: Uncertainty remains regarding the risks associated with single dose use of etomidate. OBJECTIVES: To assess use of etomidate in critically ill patients and compare outcomes for patients who received etomidate versus ketamine. METHODS: We assessed patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), admitted to an ICU in the Premier Healthcare Database, 2008-2021. The exposure was receipt of etomidate on the day of IMV initiation and the main outcome was hospital mortality. Using multivariable regression we compared patients who received IMV within the first two days of hospitalization who received etomidate with propensity-score matched patients who received ketamine. We also assessed whether receipt of corticosteroids in the days after intubation modified the association between etomidate and mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 1,689,945 patients who received IMV, nearly half (738,855; 43.7%) received etomidate. Among those who received IMV in the first two days of hospitalization, we established 22,273 matched pairs given either etomidate or ketamine. In the primary analysis, receipt of etomidate was associated with greater hospital mortality relative to ketamine (21.6% vs 18.7%; absolute risk difference: 2.8%, 95% CI 2.1%, 3.6%; adjusted odds ratio: 1.28, 95% CI 1.21,1.34). This was consistent across subgroups and sensitivity analyses. We found no attenuation of the association with mortality with receipt of corticosteroids in the days following etomidate use. CONCLUSIONS: Use of etomidate on the day of IMV initiation is common and associated with a higher odds of hospital mortality compared with ketamine. This finding is independent of subsequent treatment with corticosteroids.

Disparities in end-of-life care for minoritized racial and ethnic patients during terminal hospitalizations in New York State.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic minorities often receive care at different hospitals than non-Hispanic white patients, but how hospital characteristics influence the occurrence of disparities at the end of life is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if disparities in end-of-life care were present among minoritized patients during terminal hospitalizations, and if these disparities varied with hospital characteristics. METHODS: We identified hospitalizations where a patient died in New York State, 2016-2018. Using multilevel logistic regression, we examined whether documented end-of-life care (do-not-resuscitate status (DNR), palliative care (PC) encounter) differed by race and ethnicity, and whether these disparities differed based on receiving care in hospitals with varying characteristics (Black or Hispanic-serving hospital; teaching status; bed size; and availability of specialty palliative care). RESULTS: We identified 143,713 terminal hospitalizations in 188 hospitals. Across all hospitals, only Black patients were less likely to have a PC encounter (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.83 [0.80-0.87]) or DNR status (aOR 0.91 [0.87-0.95]) when compared with non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic patients were more likely to have DNR status (aOR 1.07 [1.01-1.13]). In non-teaching hospitals, all minoritized groups had decreased odds of PC (aOR 0.80 [0.76-0.85] for Black, aOR 0.91 [0.85-0.98] for Hispanic, aOR 0.93 [0.88-0.98] for Others), while in teaching hospitals, only Black patients had a decreased likelihood of a PC encounter (aOR 0.88 [0.82-0.93]). Also, Black patients in a Black-serving hospitals were less likely to have DNR status (aOR 0.80 [0.73-0.87]). Disparities did not differ based on whether specialty PC was available (p = 0.27 for PC encounter, p = 0.59 for DNR status). CONCLUSION: During terminal hospitalizations, Black patients were less likely than non-Hispanic White patients to have documented end-of-life care. This disparity appears to be more pronounced in non-teaching hospitals than in teaching hospitals.

Palliative Care Clinicians' Views on Metrics for Successful Specialist Palliative Care Delivery in the ICU.

CONTEXT: A quarter of palliative care (PC) clinicians' consultations are now requested from the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite this high usage, a standardized set of quality metrics for PC delivery in the ICU does not exist. OBJECTIVES: To explore PC clinicians' views on how to best measure quality of care delivery in their role as a consultant in the ICU setting. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a parent dataset consisting of qualitative data from semi-structured interviews exploring ways to optimize PC clinicians' role in the ICU. Nineteen participants were recruited across five academic medical centers in the US. Participants included PC physicians (n = 14), nurse practitioners (n = 2), and social workers (n = 3). Thematic analysis with an inductive approach was used to generate themes. RESULTS: We identified two central themes: difficulties in measuring PC quality in the ICU (theme 1) and tension between the role of PC and metrics (theme 2). Theme 1 had two subthemes related to logistical challenges in measuring outcomes and PC clinicians' preference for metrics that incorporate subjective feedback from patients, family members, and the primary ICU team. Theme 2 described how PC clinicians often felt a disconnect between the goal of meeting a metric and their goals in delivering high-quality clinical care. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide insight into PC clinician perspectives on quality metrics and identify major barriers that need to be addressed to successfully implement quality measurement in the ICU setting.

Specialist Palliative Care Use and End-of-Life Care in Patients With Metastatic Cancer.

CONTEXT: For patients with advanced cancer, high intensity treatment at the end of life is measured as a reflection of the quality of care. Use of specialist palliative care has been promoted to improve care quality, but whether its use is associated with decreased treatment intensity on a population-level is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether receipt of specialist palliative care use is associated with differences in end-of-life quality metrics in patients with metastatic cancer. METHODS: Retrospective propensity-matched cohort of patients age ≥ 65 who died with metastatic cancer in U.S. hospitals with palliative care programs that participated in the National Palliative Care Registry in 2018-2019. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the impact of specialist palliative care on use of chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life, use of intensive care unit (ICU) in the last 30 days of life, use of hospice, and hospice enrollment ≥ three days. RESULTS: After 1:2 matching, our cohort consisted of 15,878 exposed and 31,756 unexposed patients. Receipt of specialist palliative care was associated with a decrease in use of chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.59 [0.50-0.70]) and ICU at the end of life (aHR 0.86 [0.80-0.92]), and an increase in hospice use (aHR 1.92 [1.85-1.99]) and hospice enrollment for ≥three days (aHR 2.00 [1.93-2.07]). CONCLUSION: On a population-level, use of specialist palliative care was associated with improved metrics for quality end-of-life care for patients dying with metastatic cancer, underscoring the importance of its integration into cancer care.

Use of Mechanical Ventilation Across 3 Countries.

Importance: The ability to provide invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is a mainstay of modern intensive care; however, whether rates of IMV vary among countries is unclear. Objective: To estimate the per capita rates of IMV in adults across 3 high-income countries with large variation in per capita intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study examined 2018 data of patients aged 20 years or older who received IMV in England, Canada, and the US. Exposure: The country in which IMV was received. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the age-standardized rate of IMV and ICU admissions in each country. Rates were stratified by age, specific diagnoses (acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, upper gastrointestinal bleed), and comorbidities (dementia, dialysis dependence). Data analyses were conducted between January 1, 2021, and December 1, 2022. Results: The study included 59 873 hospital admissions with IMV in England (median [IQR] patient age, 61 [47-72] years; 59% men, 41% women), 70 250 in Canada (median [IQR] patient age, 65 [54-74] years; 64% men, 36% women), and 1 614 768 in the US (median [IQR] patient age, 65 [54-74] years; 57% men, 43% women). The age-standardized rate per 100 000 population of IMV was the lowest in England (131; 95% CI, 130-132) compared with Canada (290; 95% CI, 288-292) and the US (614; 95% CI, 614-615). Stratified by age, per capita rates of IMV were more similar across countries among younger patients and diverged markedly in older patients. Among patients aged 80 years or older, the crude rate of IMV per 100 000 population was highest in the US (1788; 95% CI, 1781-1796) compared with Canada (694; 95% CI, 679-709) and England (209; 95% CI, 203-214). Concerning measured comorbidities, 6.3% of admitted patients who received IMV in the US had a diagnosis of dementia (vs 1.4% in England and 1.3% in Canada). Similarly, 5.6% of admitted patients in the US were dependent on dialysis prior to receiving IMV (vs 1.3% in England and 0.3% in Canada). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that patients in the US received IMV at a rate 4 times higher than in England and twice that in Canada in 2018. The greatest divergence was in the use of IMV among older adults, and patient characteristics among those who received IMV varied markedly. The differences in overall use of IMV among these countries highlight the need to better understand patient-, clinician-, and systems-level choices associated with the varied use of a limited and expensive resource.

Development and Implementation of a Clinician-Educator Track for Residents in Anesthesiology.

Background: Clinician-educators in academic settings have often had no formal training in teaching or in giving feedback to trainees. We implemented a Clinician-Educator Track within the Department of Anesthesiology with the initial goal of improving teaching skills through a didactic curriculum and experiential opportunities for a broad audience of faculty, fellows, and residents. We then assessed our program for feasibility and effectiveness. Methods: We developed a 1-year curriculum focusing on adult learning theory, evidence-based best teaching practices in different educational settings, and giving feedback. We recorded the number of participants and their attendance at monthly sessions. The year culminated in a voluntary observed teaching session using an objective assessment rubric to structure feedback. Participants in the Clinician-Educator Track then evaluated the program through anonymous online surveys. Qualitative content analysis of the survey comments was performed using inductive coding to generate relevant categories and identify the main themes. Results: There were 19 participants in the first year of the program and 16 in the second year. Attendance at most sessions remained high. Participants appreciated the flexibility and design of scheduled sessions. They very much enjoyed the voluntary observed teaching sessions to practice what they had learned throughout the year. All participants were satisfied with the Clinician-Educator Track, and many participants described changes and improvements in their teaching practices due to the course. Conclusions: The implementation of a novel, anesthesiology-specific Clinician-Educator Track has been feasible and successful, with participants reporting improved teaching skills and overall satisfaction with the program.

Place of Death From Cancer in US States With vs Without Palliative Care Laws.

Importance: In the US, improving end-of-life care has become increasingly urgent. Some states have enacted legislation intended to facilitate palliative care delivery for seriously ill patients, but it is unknown whether these laws have any measurable consequences for patient outcomes. Objective: To determine whether US state palliative care legislation is associated with place of death from cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study with a difference-in-differences analysis used information about state legislation combined with death certificate data for 50 US states (from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2017) for all decedents who had any type of cancer listed as the underlying cause of death. Data analysis for this study occurred between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022. Exposures: Presence of a nonprescriptive (relating to palliative and end-of-life care without prescribing particular clinician actions) or prescriptive (requiring clinicians to offer patients information about care options) palliative care law in the state-year where death occurred. Main Outcomes and Measures: Multilevel relative risk regression with state modeled as a random effect was used to estimate the likelihood of dying at home or hospice for decedents dying in state-years with a palliative care law compared with decedents dying in state-years without such laws. Results: This study included 7 547 907 individuals with cancer as the underlying cause of death. Their mean (SD) age was 71 (14) years, and 3 609 146 were women (47.8%). In terms of race and ethnicity, the majority of decedents were White (85.6%) and non-Hispanic (94.1%). During the study period, 553 state-years (85.1%) had no palliative care law, 60 state-years (9.2%) had a nonprescriptive palliative care law, and 37 state-years (5.7%) had a prescriptive palliative care law. A total of 3 780 918 individuals (50.1%) died at home or in hospice. Most decedents (70.8%) died in state-years without a palliative care law, while 15.7% died in state-years with a nonprescriptive law and 13.5% died in state-years with a prescriptive law. Compared with state-years without a palliative care law, the likelihood of dying at home or in hospice was 12% higher for decedents in state-years with a nonprescriptive palliative care law (relative risk, 1.12 [95% CI 1.08-1.16]) and 18% higher for decedents in state-years with a prescriptive palliative care law (relative risk, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.11-1.26]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of decedents from cancer, state palliative care laws were associated with an increased likelihood of dying at home or in hospice. Passage of state palliative care legislation may be an effective policy intervention to increase the number of seriously ill patients who experience their death in such locations.

Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit: Past, Present, and Future.

In this article, the authors review the origins of palliative care within the critical care context and describe the evolution of symptom management, shared decision-making, and comfort-focused care in the ICU from the 1970s to the early 2000s. The authors also review the growth of interventional studies in the past 20 years and indicate areas for future study and quality improvement for end-of-life care among the critically ill.

Combined heart and liver transplantation in a patient supported by left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with propionic acidemia.

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare inherited metabolic disease due to inborn errors of metabolism. PA results in the accumulation of abnormal organic acid metabolites in multiple systems, mainly the central nervous system and the heart. Cardiac complications include dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and carry a 40-50% increased mortality risk. Liver transplantation (LT) is required in PA patients when medical treatment fails and may prevent or slow down the cardiomyopathy progression. However, severe heart disease may be a serious contraindication to LT. We present a complicated case of a PA patient, supported with a Left Ventricular Assist Device, who underwent a heart and Liver transplant. PA patients are at increased risk for metabolic acidosis during surgery, with increased anion gap and hyperammonemia. A strict multi-disciplinary approach is needed to prevent and treat metabolic decompensation. The patient had a successful heart and liver transplant after a strict treatment protocol in the pre, intra, and post-operative periods. His case highlights the complexity of PA patients and the increased risk for metabolic decompensation during surgery and provides an insight into how to manage such complicated patients.